Tree Roots and Construction

I am just trying to get some understanding in relation to trees and construction. I realise any help offered here is general and not based on any site investigation etc.. I live on a new housing estate, in order to build the estate the developer had to erect a wall to both retain and support Highways land, the development is right on the edge of the A303. It is a crib wall made of wooden boxes. The site above and adjacent to the wall is covered in a density of trees. The provider of the wall has expressed concern if there were trees nearby. The developer has said he has stopped the tree roots growing in the direction of the wall by filling the area with rock and behind the wall with free draining clean stone so the roots unable to find moisture or nourishment will go in the opposite direction. There are trees with 10 foot of the wall if not closer and new saplings growing all over the top of the wall. Our Q is, that even if that was possible what would be the outcome for a density of trees to include native species yew/holly etc if they can only grow roots in one direction? Would this be normal practise to try to constrain roots in one direction or would construction normally take into account mature height spread and build at a distance so the trees would be able to grow naturally? The trees are vital for screening and acoustic barrier. No Tree Survey was undertaken as part of the Planning process.

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